Carrabba's Bread
Dipping Spice
by Todd
Wilbur
When you sit down for the Italian-style
grub at one of the more than 100 nationwide Carrabba's
restaurants, you're first served a small plate with a little pile of spices in
the middle to which the waiter adds olive oil. Now you're set up to dip your
sliced bread in the freshly flavored oil. And what a great flavor it must be to
draw so many e-mail requests for this new top secret clone. To craft a version
of this tasty spice blend at home you'll need a coffee bean grinder or a small
food processor to finely chop the ingredients. The recipe works even better if
the salt and pepper you use here comes out of salt and pepper grinders.
1 tablespoon minced fresh
basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh
parsley (Italian parsley is best)
1 tablespoon minced fresh
garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black
pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh
rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground sea salt
or kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red
pepper
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon fresh lemon
juice
1. Combine all the
ingredients, except oil and lemon juice in a small food processor or coffee
bean grinder. Chop briefly until all ingredients are about the same size.
2. Stir in oil and lemon
juice.
3. To serve, combine about 1
1/2 teaspoons spice blend to
Makes about
1/4 cup spice.